Demountable top for motor-vehicles.



A. I. CHAMPAGNE. DEMOUNTABLE TOP FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

AFPUCAHON FILED in. 29. l9lfi.

1,274,854. Patented Aug. 6,1918.

A. I. CHAMPAGNE.

DEMOUNTABLE TOP FOR-MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. l9l6.

1,274,854. Patented Aug. 6, ma

M 2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J. CHAMPAGIFE, 0F nnw voax, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO CHRISTIAN W. QCHILD- WAGHTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEMOUNTABLE TOP FOR MOTOR-VEHIGLES.

To all whom it me concern: 1

Be it known t at I, ARTHUR J. CHAM- rnonnfa subject of the King of England, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Demounta'ble. To s for Motor-Vehicles; and I do hereby dec are the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in tops for motor vehicles, and more particularly to such as are adapted to be demountable, and to change the character of the motor vehicle, as, for example, ,from a touring car to a limousine.

The object in view is the provision of means for locking an additional section on to a door of a motor vehicle in such a manner as to be easily and quickly removable and at the same time to remain as firmly in place during operation as if formed integral with the door.

With this and further objects in view, as will in part hereinafter become apparent and in part be stated, 'the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as subsequently specified and claimed. Y

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a motor vehicle embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a. similar view on an enlarged scale oi one o the doors detached. j

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated b line 3, 3 of Fig. 1, with the door omit parts being seen in elevation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, vertical section taken on the plane indicated by line 4,

4 of, Fig. 1.

Fig. '5 is an enlarged detail elevation of a fragment of the door looking at one corner portion thereof from the inside, parts being broken away and parts being seen .in

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application and February 2a, 1910. Serial 1:. cuss.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.

Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical sections taken on the (planes indicated respectively by lines 6, 6 an 7, 7, of Fig. 5.

Fi 7' is a horizontal section taken on the p ane indicated by lines 7, 7 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan View of the upper edge portion of the door, with the addltional section detached.

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 7 of a slightly modified embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a further modified form of the invention.

Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical sections taken on the plane indicated respectively by lines 11, 11, and i2, 12, of Fig. 10. r

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of the structure seen in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates the body of any ordinary-motor vehicle, mounted on the upper edge of which is the top 2 of the permanent character. The top 2 includes rmanent corner pieces 3, 3, which depend romthe top andrest against and are secured to the body 1. The intermediate spaces between these corner portions 3 are occupied by windows. The side Windows 6, 6 are 'slidii 1y mounted on heads 4, fixed to the upper edge of the body 1', each windowbeing held in place by any appropriate latches 5, gaging the fixed portion of the top 2 and the upper edge portion of the body .1.

etween the side windows 6 and between one of the side windows 6 and the front corner pieces 3 are arranged window like tions, supplementing and forming continuations of the doors 7, 7 of the vehicle. These window like supplemental sections for the doors 7 are indicated at 8, and. each is made up in itself of-a frame carrying a transparent plate, after the ordinary manner of a window and similar to windowsfi, 6. Each sect1on'8, however, is detachably connected upper, edge of the to its res ective door 7 in a manner enabling easy app ication and removal of the section, while at the same time being held rigidly and firmly inplace during use in a manner insuring against looseness or rattling of the through the passage in lug '13.

The method of connection of each section 8 to itsdoor 7 is susceptible of soul; variation, but must possess, as its essential characteristic, capacity for retaining the section against rattlin or becoming loose relative to the door. o accomplish this result in the most ellicicnt manner, while employing a construction resentingneatness in appearance and finisli, I employ the structure disclosed in detail in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive,

length, thiit its head engages the arm 19 and clamps said arm ti ht against the adjacent face of la .18. a, the parts are very efiectivel secured together in the manner susceptibe of easy detachment.

wherein the door 7 is seen as notched at its/ To detach the parts, it i only necessary to upper edge, there being onev such notch at each .upper corner, and a retaining plate 9 is secured in the notch by screws 10, 10. The plate 9 is notched at its exposed face as indicated at 11, and is recessed near its inner or embedded face, as indicated at 12. This notch 11 and recess 12 open upwardly and between the said notch and recess is arranged a section 13 of upstandiiig material having the form of a thickened and relatively deep bead. For purposes of identification, the part 13 will hereinafter be referrcd to as a lug, with the understanding that that term is to signify any equivalent of the part 13 seen in the drawing. A bifurcated plate 14 is lixed to each lower corner of the frame of each section 8, the said plate being formed with preferably integral upstanding slra s 15 and 16, designed to extend along the aces of the material of the frame 8. A relatively short strap or car ,17 outstands late-rally from the main body of stra 16 to enable engagement of the lower liar of the frame 8. Appropriate bolts 18, 18 are passed through straps 15, 16 and 17, and through the bars of frame 8 for securing the straps to the bars and for stilfening aml strengthening the frame. The lower end of the plate 1+ is bifurcated and formed with arms 19 and 20, respectively adapted to enter the notch 11 and recess l2, riaapeetivel y. The lower portion of recess 12 is curved outward to form an overhanging shoulder of the material of plate 9,

and the lower end portion of the arm 20 is eorrospoudingl curved so as to extend b.0- neath the overianging portion of the material of plate 9. The arm 19 is formed with an aperture 21, and the lug 13 is formed with a threaded passage register-in r with the aperture 21. A bolt 22 is passed loosely through the aperture 21 and threaded Bolt 22 terminates in a tapered end 23, engaging a substantially conical recess 24 formed inthe arm20. The recess 24 is so located with respect to theaxial line of the bolt 22 that when the rounded or tapered end 23'enters the recess, it strikes the lower edge, thereof and wialges thc'iu'm J0 downward, so as to draw the plate [4 down tight against the lug 13 and thus tightly, bind the parts together.

withdraw'the bolts'22, there being' one adjacent each end of the upper edge of each 7 door 7, and after the bolts have been removed to swing the respective section 8 outward while withdrawing the arm 20 duringsuch swinging movement.- To replace the section 8, merely a converse operation, is necessar It wil thus be seen that when it is desired to change the nature of a vehicle from a limousine or similar closed vehicle to an open vehicle, it is only necessary to detach the sections 8, open the doors, release tlie latches 5, and slide outthe section 6, and then the vehicle is ready for use as an open vehicle. As a matter of facility, the removedisertions and windows may be stored at any appropriate place about the vehicle, as, for example, in apocket 25 formed at the back portion of the body of the vehicle.

In Fig. 9 is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of the structure seen in Fig. 7, wherein plate 14 is employed, which is similar in construction and function to plate 14, being rovided with arms 19- and 20', adapts to extend on opposite sides of a lug 13 upstanding from a plate 9 fixed to the upper edge ortion of--door 7. The plate 9' mstead 0 being provided withan open recess or notch at one side and a closed recess at the other, is provided with a closed recess 11' at one side and a closed recess 12' at the other, the recess 11 being adapted to receive the. arm 19' while the recess 12" receivcs the arm 20'. -The recess 1'2 is un dcrcut so as to for'm an over-hanging portion of material of plate 9, and the arm 20' parts, and tho under-lapping of the lower portion of arm 20' alon the over-hanging portion of plate 9' are 'e ended u onfor n'oviding tie requisite tig itness an rigidity of fit for preventing loosencss or rattling. The operation of the structure, so far as assemblage and demountin is concerned, is the same as that describe with respect to the structure seen in the preceding figures of the drawin It will be tiserved that in both Figs. 7 and 9, the outer depending arm is formed with a hook-like, lower free end which en gages material equivalent of a retaining bar, and in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, is shown a modified embodiment in which the hook is more pronounced, and the over-hanging element is distinctively a retaining bar.

Referring to the modification seen in Figs. 10 to 13, 7 indicates the vehicle door and 8" the supplemental section. In each upper corner of doors 7 is secured the plate 9",

i which is provided with an upstanding lug 13", on one side of which the plate 9" is formed with the equivalent of a recess bybeing formed with apertures 12", 12", leaving a bar 9 extending above the lower aperture and across the upper aperture and forming the boundary for each. Each corner of section 8" isprovided with a plate 14 bifurcated at its lower end, producing arms 19 and 20", adapted to extend upon opposite sides of and to receive the lug 13" therebetween. The lower end portion of arm '20 is formed into a hook 20* adapted to extend through the lower recess 12" and to engage the bar 9",. The arm 19 is apertured similar to the aperture in arm 19 and a bolt 22", identical with bolt 22, is passed through said aperture and threaded through the lug 13'. The end of the bolt 22 is tapered or rounded off to engage a similarly rounded or tapered recess in the arm 20" for functioning .as described with respect to the parts seen in Fig. 7.

The operation of the structure seen in Figs. lg to 13 being identical to that do scribed with respect to the structure seen in Fig. 7. further statement of operation is unnecessary.

Whatever the method of anchorage for the supplemental section for each door, each of the doors is prpvidcd with a bond 4' similar in structure and function to bend 4, and engaged by a channel head 4' fixed to the edge of the respective supplemental section.

\Vhile each of the plates 14 and their respective parts have been described in detail in addition to the general description of each section 8, it will be perfect] y apparent that in fact the several plates 14 are inherent parts of their respective sections, and likewise while plate 9 in each instance has been separately mentioned, it is in fact a part of its respective door, and may be so considered for purposes of interpretin the appended claims. Furthermore, it is o vious that the hook and eye connection seen distinctly in of a supplemental section adapted to be,

mounted thereon, one of said parts being formed with a hook-like projection, and the.

other with a correspondingly shaped recess, means for locking the projection in the recess, and a second pro'ection cooperating with and spaced from the. first.

2. The combination, with a vehicle door, of a supplemental section formed with a hook-like projection, and the other with a correspomingly shaped recess, means for locking the projection in the recess. and a second projection cooperating with and spaced from the first, the recessed part being formed with :1 lug fitting between said projections, said locking means retaining the lug between the projections.

3. The combination, with a vehicle door. of a supplemental section therefor. one oi -said parts being provided with :1 lug extending toward the other. and the second purl being provided with arms iln'losing the lug, and means extending through one of the arms and engaging the lug For locking the arms and lug together, one of the arms being l'ornn-d with a hook-shaped portion umlcr-hanging a portion of the mate rial of the first part.

4. The combination, with a vehicle door. of a demountable section therefor, the door being provided with a lug. and the section being provided with arms adapted to extend on opposite sides of and engage the lug. one of the units being formed with a tapering recess opening toward the lug, and the other arm being formed with an aperture. and' a bolt. having a tapered end, the bolt being extended through tin-aperture and threaded through the lug and having its tapered end engaging the recess, the recess being positioned and dimensioned for enabling the tapered end of the. bolt in entering the recess to draw the arm along the lug in a direction for binding the demountable section light against the lug.

5. The combination, with a vehicle door. of a demountable section therefor. the door being formed with an opening and with material over-hanging a portion oi'ihe opening, and the demountable section being formed with an arm adapted to extend into the opening and curved to under-hung said over-hanging portion of the material of the door, and a bolt threaded through a portion of the material of the door and engaging the arm, and pressing the same toward the over-hanging material of the door for secura demountable section therefor, the door and section having a hook and eye connection, and means cooperating therewith for retaining said connection in operative condlition, the said means comprising a bolt t readed through a portion of the material of the door and engaging the hook for press- 10 ing the same toward the eye connection and securing the parts together. a

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence 01': two witnesses.

ARTHUR J. CHAMPAGNE. Witnesses:

Lomsn Com, MARJORIE KRUG, 

